Ocean Thermal Energy Facts

Before describing the mechanics of the system let s first understand the natural resource and its potential.

Ocean thermal energy facts.

The five renewable energy sources are. Oceans make up about 70 of the earth. Ocean thermal energy conversion otec is a way of getting useful energy from the world s oceans. Ocean thermal energy conversion otec form of energy conversion that makes use of the temperature differential between the warm surface waters of the oceans heated by solar radiation and the deeper cold waters to generate power in a conventional heat engine.

The energy is gained from the different temperature in the ocean. Many oceans are very deep and the water at depths of 1 000 meters can be around 5 c. Ocean energy is the use of moving waves to produce power. People will also benefit from it in numerous ways which you can find out in these 15 social impacts of ocean energy.

Otec can operate with a very high capacity factor and so can operate in base load mode. This by itself makes oceans the largest possible source of renewable energy. The sun shines on the oceans of the world and in the hot parts near the equator the water at the sea s surface can be quite warm sometimes as high as 30 c. Oceans cover over 70 of the earth s surface making them the world s largest solar energy collectors.

Together the warm ocean surface and the cool deep water can generate heat. Ocean thermal energy corporation ote traces its roots to 1998 when our predecessor company began researching and developing the technologies known as ocean thermal energy conversion otec and seawater lake water air conditioning swac. Ocean thermal energy conversion otec systems use a temperature difference of at least 77 fahrenheit to power a turbine to produce electricity. Ocean energy facts ocean energy is a form of renewable energy that uses the ocean s tides waves winds currents and thermal elements to generate energy.

Ocean energy is one of the 5 ress and falls under the more general water energy. It s great news for the environment as that would mean a huge reduction in pollution. Sea solar power uses the basic technology known as ocean thermal energy conversion or otec which was invented in 1881 by a french scientist years ahead of his time by the name of jacque arsene d arsonval. Ocean thermal energy conversion otec uses the ocean thermal gradient between cooler deep and warmer shallow or surface seawaters to run a heat engine and produce useful work usually in the form of electricity.

The oceans constitute the largest powerhouse on earth. The difference in temperature between the surface and the lower water layer can be as large as 50 c 90 f over vertical distances of as little as 90 metres about 300 feet in some ocean areas. Electricity and drinkable water can be gained through this renewable source of energy. This temperature difference can be used to produce electricity and to desalinate ocean water.

Energy from the sun heats the surface water of the ocean. We are in the advanced planning stages for the world s first commercial scale otec plant. Most of the time it is shortened as otec. There are currently 4 types or subcategories of ocean energy.